KARACHI, Sept 29: Sindhi Para and eight other localities of Shanti Nagar, UC-7 of Gulshan Town, are facing acute water shortage as not a single drop has been released to these areas for the last 10 days.
These localities, with a population of 35,000, have always been short of water due to inadequate supplies. The water and sanitation (W&S) officials had been refusing the demand for more supply especially by the residents of 432 housing units of Sindhi Para.
It may be mentioned here that these residents had paid Rs750,000 to the W&S department for regularization of water supply.
The UC Nazim, Akbar Moorejo, said, “According to international standards, about 70,000 gallon water daily is required for 432 units, each unit having seven members. However, at present about 30,000 gallon water is being supplied to these units,” he added.
Other eight localities, having over 30,000 population, were being supplied only 50,000 gallons water daily against the demand of 600,000 gallon, he said.
Mr Moorejo said that the W&S department had taken over the pumping station at COD filter plant last year, which had been previously owned by public health engineering department.
He said that the residents of 432 units of Sindhi Para afterwards paid Rs750,000 to the W&S departmet, which promised to supply water for three hours daily to the locality. But, despite visiting the office of Chief Engineer Distribution, there was no positive response, he added.
He said that the executive engineer of W&S department had moved a summary to the higher officials last year suggesting a three-hour water supply to Sindhi Para. Moreover, he said, the superintending engineer had also recommended the same, but the summary was still awaiting the approval of the chief engineer.
The UC Nazim siad that the obsolete and faulty motors and distribution lines were some other reasons for short and irregular supply. He said there were only three motors installed at the pumping station since long. “The motors are oftenly out of order and the residents have to get them repaired, which is in fact the responsibility of W&S department,” he said adding that even the salary of valve-man is also paid by the residents.
Mr Moorejo stressed on construction of new pumping station and installation of turbine in place of old motors, increase duration of water release from two to three hours, appointment of a valve-man and arrangement for his regular salary.
“The new pumping station is must as the old room with cracked pillars might fell down any time causing also the loss of lives,” he said.
According to him, the streamlining of water supply will help the W&S department generate revenues, as the residents will regularly pay bills if they are confident to get the supply.
He also requested the adviser local government, city Nazim and Nazim Gulshan Town to take immediate notice of the situation and resolve the problem.—PPI